Device for holding hand-held computer

ABSTRACT

A device for holding a hand-held computer is provided. The device includes a holder and a mount for receiving and locking the holder. The holder includes a clamp for holding the hand-held computer, a short peg extending from a surface of the clamp, and a circular engaging end attaching to a distal end of the short peg. The mount includes a front wall, a back wall separated from the front wall by side walls, a slot being formed in the front wall and having two opposite arcing side walls, and a circular engaging opening in the slot terminating at respective first ends of the two opposite arcing side walls to lock the short peg and the circular engaging end.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a case for a computer device. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to devices for holdinghand-held computers.

2. Introduction

At a distribution center (e.g., a retailer's warehouse), items/productsare scanned for further being redistributed to retailers, wholesalers,or directly to customers, when the items are delivered at thedistribution center. A barcode scanner, such as a scanning gun, isusually employed to scan the items. However, a hand-held computer isgaining its popularity for scanning items and is replacing the barcodescanner, due to its multiple uses for advanced data capture andmobility. Accordingly, a device is needed to hold the hand-held computeronto a distribution center personnel for facilitating scanning items.For example, the hand-held computer may be attached via the device tohip of an associate, such that hands of the associate can be freed tohandle the item while the item is being scanned by the hand-heldcomputer.

What is needed are devices for holding a hand-held computer toefficiently facilitate capturing information about items in adistribution center, retail store, or other environments.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are devices for holding a hand-held computer, whichovercome at least some drawbacks known in the art. An example device forholding a hand-held device can include a holder. The holder can includea clamp for attaching to and holding the hand-held computer by clampingon a portion of the hand-held computer without impacting features of thehand-held computer, a short peg extending from a surface of the clampand having a polygonal cross-section, and a circular engaging endattaching to a distal end of the short peg from the surface of the clamand having a diameter greater than a width of the polygonalcross-section. The device can further include a mount for receiving andlocking the holder. The mount can include a front wall and a back wallseparated from the front wall by side walls. A recess is defined by thefront wall, the back wall and the side walls, and the side walls leavean open portion into the recess. The mount can also include a slot beingformed in the front wall at the open portion. The slot has two oppositearcing side walls and is configured for receiving the short peg and thecircular engaging end. The mount can further include a circular engagingopening in the slot terminating at respective first ends of the twoopposite arcing side walls to lock the short peg and the circularengaging end. The respective first ends are separated by a distanceslightly smaller than the width of the polygonal cross-section. Theshort peg and the circular engaging end are locked in the circularengaging opening such that the holder is in place in the mount.

An exemplary mount for receiving and locking a holder is also disclosedherein. The holder can include a clamp, a short peg extending from asurface of the clamp and having a polygonal cross-section, and acircular engaging end attaching to a distal end of the short peg fromthe surface of the clam and having a diameter greater than a width ofthe polygonal cross-section. The mount can include a front wall, and aback wall separated from the front wall by side walls. A recess isdefined by the front wall, the back wall and the side walls, and theside walls leave an open portion into the recess. A slot is formed inthe front wall at the open portion. The slot has two opposite arcingside walls and is configured for receiving the short peg and thecircular engaging end. The mount can also include a circular engagingopening in the slot terminating at respective first ends of the twoopposite arcing side walls to lock the short peg and the circularengaging end. The respective first ends are separated by a distanceslightly smaller than the width of the polygonal cross-section. Theshort peg and the circular engaging end are locked in the circularengaging opening such that the holder is in place in the mount.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forthin the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosedprinciples. The features and advantages of the disclosure can berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and otherfeatures of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, or can be learned by thepractice of the principles set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of an example andnot limited in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a device with a hand-held computerclamped thereon according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the device with the hand-held computerclamped thereon of FIG. 1 according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective review of a device for holding ahand-held computer according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective review of the device of FIG. 3according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a device for holding ahand-held computer in which a holder of the device slides into a mountof the device according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the device in which the holderof the device is positioned in the mount of the device of FIG. 5according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates another perspective view of the device in which theholder of the device is positioned in the mount of the device of FIG. 5according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a mount of a device for holding ahand-held computer according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a mount of a device for holding ahand-held computer according to another example embodiment; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a holder of a device forholding a hand-held computer according to one example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various configurations and embodiments of the disclosure are describedin detail below. While specific implementations are described, it shouldbe understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. Othercomponents and configurations may be used without parting from thespirit and scope of the disclosure.

The concepts and embodiments described herein are for providing devicesfor holding a hand-held computer. As used herein, a hand-held computermay include, but is not limited to, a smart phone, a computing tablet, awearable mobile computer, a phone-size mobile computer, and the like.The hand-held computer can be configured to function as a barcodescanner that reads one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and/or quickresponse (QR) codes. Additionally, the hand-held computer can also beconfigured to have other features such as photographing, taking video,and/or walkie-talkie. A device for holding a hand-held computer caninclude a holder (also referred to as a clip) and a mount (also referredto as a holster) for receiving and locking the holder in place. Thehand-held computer can be attached to and held by the holder.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a device with a hand-held computerclamped thereon according to one example embodiment. The device caninclude a holder 10 that attaches to and holds the hand-held computer 20(a front review of the hand-held computer 20). The holder 10 isconfigured to clamp on a portion of the hand-held computer 20 withoutimpacting functioning features of the hand-held computer 20, such asscanning and photographing. The device can also include a mount 30paring with the holder 10. The mount 30 can be configured to receive andlock the holder 10 such that the hand-held computer 20 can be attachedvia the mount 30 to a body of an associate. For example, the associatemay carry the hand-held computer 20 via the device on his belt whilescanning items using the hand-held computer 20.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the device with the hand-held computerclamped thereon. As shown in FIG. 2, a back view of the hand-heldcomputer 20 and the holder 10 is illustrated. A width W of the holder 10is significantly less than a length L of the hand-held computer 20, suchthat the holder 10 can be clamped on any portion of the hand-heldcomputer 20 along the length L without effecting functioning features ofthe hand-held computer 20. The holder 10 is also configured to have anengaging end 40 to engage an engaging opening 50 in the mount 30 tosecure the hand-held computer 20 to the mount 30.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a device 300 for holding ahand-held computer according to an example embodiment. The device 300can include a holder 302 holding the hand-held computer and a mount 304for pairing with the holder 302. For example, the holder 302 can slideinto and lock into the mount 304 when the device 300 is used by storeassociates.

The holder 302 can be configured to include a curved clamp 306 having aninner surface 308 and an outer surface 310, a short peg 312 extendingoutwardly from the outer surface 310, and a circular engaging end 314having a thickness.

The curved clamp 306 can be used to attach to and/or hold the hand-heldcomputer with the inner surface 308 engaging the hand-held computer. Awidth W_(c) of the curved clamp 306 can be significantly smaller than alength of the hand-held computer such that functioning features of thehand-held computer are not blocked by the curved clamp 306 when thehand-held computer is held by the curved clamp 306. The curved clamp 306can have a form factor corresponding to the hand-held computer. Inaddition, the curved clamp 306 can be configured to have one or moresteps 316 on the inner surface 308 to facilitate securing the hand-heldcomputer. The curved clamp 306 can also include two opposite fingerprotrusions 318 extending inwardly from the inner surface 308 tofacilitate receiving and holding the hand-held computer in place. Twoopposite finger protrusions 320 extending outwardly form the outersurface 310 can also be configured on the curved clamp 306 to facilitateinstalling and uninstalling the hand-held computer. The two oppositefinger protrusions 320 each correspond to the two opposite fingerprotrusions 318, respectively.

The short peg 312 can have a polygonal cross-section, such as a squareor a rectangle. The short peg 312 can also have a length correspondingto a depth of a recess in the mount 304 to securely position the holder302 into the mount 304.

The circular engaging end 314 can attach to a distal end of the shortpeg 312 from the outer surface 310, and have a diameter greater than awidth of the polygonal cross-section. The circular engaging end 314 mayfacilitate the short peg 312 sliding into and out of the mount 304. Theshort peg 312 and the circular engaging end 314 can both slide into themount 304

The mount 304 is configured to receive and lock the holder 302. Themount 304 can include a front wall 322 having a top surface and a bottomsurface, and a back wall 324 separated from the front wall 322 by sidewalls 326. A recess 328 is defined by the front wall 322, the back wall324 and the side walls 326. The side walls 326 can further leave an openportion into the recess 328 on the front wall 322.

A slot 330 can be formed in the front wall 322 at the open portion forreceiving the short peg 312 and the circular engaging end 314 of theholder 302. The slot 330 is also defined by two opposite arcing sidewalls/surfaces 332 that extend from corresponding opposite side walls326 of the mount 304. That is, respective first ends of the two oppositearcing side walls 332 terminate at the corresponding side walls 326 ofthe mount 304.

The slot 330 can also include a circular engaging opening 334 thatterminates at respective second ends 336 of the two opposite archingside walls 332. The respective second ends 336 may be separated by adistance/clearance/gap W_(e) slightly smaller than or equal to a widthof the polygonal cross-section of the short peg 312. The short peg 312can slide into the slot 330 along the two opposite arching side walls332, and is snap fit into the circular engaging opening 334 by therespective second ends 336. The respective second ends 336 canfacilitate holding the top of the short peg 312 in place in the mount304.

The circular engaging opening 334 is configured to facilitate lockingthe short peg 312 and the circular engaging end 314. A diameter of thecircular engaging opening 334 can be less than the diameter of thecircular engaging end 314. Further, the diameter of the circularengaging opening 334 can equal to or slightly greater than a width ofthe polygonal cross-section of the short peg 312. In such a way, theshort peg 312 and the circular engaging end 314 can be facilitated tolock in the circular engaging opening, causing the holder 302 to be inplace in the mount 304.

The recess 328 may have a height measuring from a back/bottom surface ofthe front wall 322 to a front/top surface of the back wall 324. Theheight can equal to or slightly greater than a thickness of the circularengaging end 314, such that the circular engaging end 314 may be securedonce it sits in the recess 328 under the circular engaging opening 334.

The front wall 322 may has a thickness equaling to or slightly less thana length of the short peg 312, such that the outer surface 310 of thecurved clamp 306 engages the top surface of the front wall 322 when theholder 302 is in place in the mount 304.

The back wall 324 may further include some business information on thetop surface of the back wall 324, such as logo 338, symbol, text, artdesign, and the like.

A snap-on clip 340 may also be included on the bottom surface of theback wall 324 for mounting the mount 304 to, for example a waist belt ofan associate.

The holder 302 and/or the mount 304 may be made of any suitablematerials, including but is not limited to, metals, glasses, elastomers,thermoplastic polymers (e.g., epoxy and phenolic), thermosettingpolymers (e.g., nylon, polyethylene, and polystyrene), photopolymers, orcombinations thereof. The holder 302 and the mount 304 may be made ofthe same or different materials.

Any suitable manufacturing process can be used to manufacture the holder302 and/or the mount 304. The manufacturing process may include, but isnot limited to, a moulding process, a three-dimensional (3D) printingprocess, a CNC milling process, or a lamination pressing process. Themoulding process may include extrusion moulding, die casting, metalinjection moulding, thin-wall injection moulding, reaction injectionmoulding, or rotational moulding. In addition, laser etching may also beemployed for, for example logos, symbols, texts, and art designs on thetop surface of the back wall 326.

FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the device 300 accordingto an example embodiment. In FIG. 4, more details of the holder 302,such the inner surface 308 and the circular engaging end 314, areillustrated. Also further features of the mount 304 may also bedisplayed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the device 300 in which theholder 302 slides into the mount 304 according to one exampleembodiment. In FIG. 5, the polygonal cross-section of the short peg 312is a rectangular, so the distance W_(c) between the two opposite secondends 336 of the two arching side walls 332 can be slightly smaller thanthe width (e.g., the short edge of the rectangular) of the polygonalcross-section. As shown in FIG. 5, the holder 302 can be aligned withrespect to the slot 330 and slides into the mount 20 along the slot 330indicated by an arrow direction 342. An extra slight force may berequired to push the short peg 312 through the width W_(e).

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the device 300 in which theholder 302 is positioned in the mount 304 according to one exampleembodiment. After sliding through the slot 330, the curved clamp 306sits on the top surface of the front wall 322 with the outer surface 310of the curved clamp 306 engaging the top surface of the front wall 322.The short peg 312 and the circular engaging end 314 are placed insidethe circular engaging opening 334.

Another perspective view of the device 300 in which the holder 302 ispositioned in the mount 304 is illustrated in FIG. 7 according to oneexample embodiment. A more detailed view of engagement between theholder 302 and the mount 304 can be seen. The circular engaging end 314is well beneath the front wall 322 with a top surface of the circularengaging end 314 engaging the bottom surface of the front wall 322.Because the diameter of the top surface of the circular engaging end 314is greater than the diameter of the circular engaging opening 334, thecircular engaging end 314 is well prevented from vertically falling outof the circular engaging opening 334, thus facilitating securing theholder 302 into the mount 304. Further, since the width of the polygonalcross-section of the short peg 312 is slightly greater than the distanceW_(e) between the two opposite second ends 336 of the two arching sidewalls 332, the short peg 312 can be protected from horizontally slidingout of the circular engaging opening 334 without an external forcefacilitating the sliding, thus further securing the holder 302 into themount 304. In addition, cooperation an relative dimensions between thedepth of the recess 328, the thickness of the front wall 322, the lengthof the short peg 312, and the thickness of the circular engaging end314, can further ensure a well locking of the holder 302 inside themount 304.

In some embodiments, after the holder 302 is slid into the mount 304,the holder 302 may be further rotated in a certain degrees (e.g.,clockwise or counter clockwise) to orient the hand-held computer withrespect to items to be scanned by the hand-held computer. For example,the holder 302 may be rotated a 90 degree with respect to the mount 304,such that the hand-held computer orients horizontally while the mount304 can be vertically oriented when it is mounted on a waist belt of anassociate working in a store or a distribution center. Further, therotation can cause the long edge of the rectangular cross-section of theshort peg 312 to be more aligned with the direction of the distanceW_(e) between the two opposite second ends 336 of the two arching sidewalls 332, further protecting the short peg 312 from horizontallysliding out of the circular engaging opening 334 without an externalforce facilitating the sliding, which further secures the holder 302into the mount 304. In such cases, this may be done when the width W_(e)greater than the width of the peg.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a mount 800 of a device for holding ahand-held computer according to one example embodiment. The mount 800 issignificantly similar to the mount 304 of the device 300, except that noportion of a top surface of a back wall 824 is provided for businessinformation, such as the logo 338 on the mount 304. As such, detaileddescription about the mount 800 can be referred to the above descriptionwith respect to the mount 304.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a mount 900 of a device for holding ahand-held computer according to another example embodiment. Comparing tothe mount 800, a rectangle or square opening 934 is configured in a slot930, rather than s circular opening 834 in a slot 830 of the mount 800.As such, detailed description about the mount 900 can be referred to theabove description with respect to the mount 304.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a holder 1000 of a device forholding a hand-held computer according to one example embodiment.Comparing to the holder 302 of the device 300, the holder 1000 isconfigured to have an extra portion 1110 extending sideway from a sidewall 1112 of a curved clamp 1114. A short peg 1116 extends outwardlyfrom the extra portion 1110, and a circular engaging end 1118 connectsto a distal end of the short peg 1116 accordingly. Other than the extraportion 1110, the holder 1000 is significantly similar to the holder302. As such, detailed description about the holder 1000 can be referredto the above description with respect to the holder 302.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. Various modifications and changes may be made to theprinciples described herein without following the example embodimentsand applications illustrated and described herein, and without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A device for a hand-held computer, comprising: a holderincluding: a clamp for attaching to and holding the hand-held computerby clamping on a portion of the hand-held computer without impactingfunctional features of the hand-held computer; a short peg extendingfrom a surface of the clamp and having a polygonal cross-section and twoopposite sides having a first length; and a circular engaging endattaching to a distal end of the short peg from the surface of the clamand having a diameter greater than a width of the polygonalcross-section; and a mount for receiving and locking the holderincluding: a front wall; a back wall separated from the front wall byside walls, wherein a recess is defined by the front wall, the back walland the side walls, and the side walls leave an open portion into therecess; a slot being formed in the front wall at the open portion, theslot having two opposite arcing side walls and configured for receivingthe short peg and the circular engaging end; and a circular engagingopening in the slot terminating at respective first ends of the twoopposite arcing side walls to lock the short peg and the circularengaging end, the respective first ends being separated by a distancesmaller than the first length of the peg, wherein the short peg isrotated and the circular engaging end are locked in the circularengaging opening such that the holder is in place in the mount.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the circular engaging openingis less than the diameter of the circular engaging end.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein a diameter of the circular engaging opening equals tois slightly greater than the width of the polygonal cross-section. 4.The device of claim 1, wherein the hand-held computer is one of a smartphone or a computing tablet.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinrespective second ends of the two opposite arcing side walls of the slotterminate at the side walls of the mount.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the back wall includes business information on a surface of theback wall.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the recess has a heightmeasuring from a back surface of the front wall to a front surface ofthe back wall, the height equaling to or slightly greater than athickness of the circular engaging end.
 8. The device of claim 1,wherein the front wall has a thickness equaling to or slightly less thana length of the short peg such that the surface of the clamp engages afront surface of the front wall when the holder is in place in themount.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the back wall includes a clipon a back surface of the back wall for mounting the mount.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the holder is slid into the mount along thetwo opposite arcing side walls of the slot.
 11. The device of the claim1, wherein the clamp includes two opposite finger protrusions extendingoutwardly from the clamp for facilitating installing and uninstallingthe hand-held computer.
 12. The device of the claim 1, wherein the clampincludes two opposite protrusions extending inwardly from the clamp forfacilitating receiving and holding the hand-held computer.
 13. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the holder and the mount areinjection-molded.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the holder and themount are made of same materials.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein theholder and the mount are made of different materials.
 16. A mount forreceiving and locking a holder wherein the holder includes a clamp, ashort peg extending from a surface of the clamp and having a polygonalcross-section, and a circular engaging end attaching to a distal end ofthe short peg from the surface of the clam and having a diameter greaterthan a width of the polygonal cross-section, comprising: a front wall; aback wall separated from the front wall by side walls, wherein a recessis defined by the front wall, the back wall and the side walls, and theside walls leave an open portion into the recess; a slot being formed inthe front wall at the open portion, the slot having two opposite arcingside walls and configured for receiving the short peg and the circularengaging end; and a circular engaging opening in the slot terminating atrespective first ends of the two opposite arcing side walls to lock theshort peg and the circular engaging end, the respective first ends beingseparated by a distance slightly smaller than the width of the polygonalcross-section, wherein the short peg and the circular engaging end arelocked in the circular engaging opening such that the holder is in placein the mount.
 17. The mount of claim 16, wherein a diameter of thecircular engaging opening is less than the diameter of the circularengaging end.
 18. The mount of claim 16, wherein a diameter of thecircular engaging opening equals to is slightly greater than the widthof the polygonal cross-section.
 19. The mount of claim 16, wherein themount is made one of a plastic material or a metal material.
 20. Themount of claim 16, wherein the mount is injection-molded.